ACCORD >> A portion of U.S. Route 44/state Route 55 could be renamed in memory of U.S. Army Sgt. Shawn M. Farrell II, who was killed in action in Afghanistan in April.

State Sen. James Seward, R-Milford, this week introduced legislation to designate the portion of Route 44-55 between U.S. Route 209 in Wawarsing and state Route 299 in Gardiner as the “Sergeant Shawn Farrell II Memorial Highway.” A companion bill is being sponsored in the state Assembly by Kevin Cahill, D-Kingston.

The legislation is expected to come to the Senate floor for a vote prior to the scheduled end of the legislative session on June 19, according to a press release from Seward.

“Every man and woman who dons a United States military uniform sacrifices for our nation and our way of life,” Seward said in the press release. “Sergeant Farrell made the ultimate sacrifice, and we owe it to him and his family to keep his memory alive.”

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Farrell, 24, of Accord, and another soldier were killed April 28 by enemy fire in the Nerjab District of Kapisa Province, Afghanistan. At the time, Farrell was serving his second tour of duty in Afghanistan and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 32nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, which is based at Fort Drum.

“Sergeant Farrell displayed unwavering allegiance to his country and his fellow soldiers,” Seward said. “He was a true American hero, and I am extremely proud and humbled to swiftly shepherd this bill through the Legislature.”

Seward posthumously awarded Farrell the state Senate’s Liberty Medal, the highest honor bestowed by the body, in recognition of the soldier’s sacrifice and service. The senator also sponsored a special Senate resolution in tribute to Farrell.

Farrell graduated from Rondout Valley High School in 2008 and immediately entered the active-duty military.

He is survived by his wife, Allison; his parents, Heather Stokes of Stone Ridge and Shawn Farrell of Accord; three brothers and two sisters; and his stepparents, David Stokes of Stone Ridge and Tracy Kelleher of Accord.